Drop ejection apparatuses

Abstract

Material-handling systems are described that maximize the stability of materials, such as inks or clear overcoat materials. Some of the material handling systems oxygenate the material as it moves through the material-handling systems, reducing premature polymerization of the material and/or providing a stable viscosity.

1 . A drop ejecting apparatus, comprising:
 a jetting module configured to jet a material comprising a radiation-curable material;   a material supply module connected to the jetting module by a conduit; and   a gas permeable device attached to a wall of the conduit, wherein the device includes a partition and a gas-supply region, wherein the partition includes a non-wetting layer adjacent the gas-supply region and a wetting layer opposite the non-wetting layer, and one or more passageways extending through the wetting and non-wetting layers.   
     
     
         2 . The drop ejecting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the wetting layer is from about 0.5 micron to about 25 micron. 
     
     
         3 . The drop ejecting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the non-wetting layer is from about 0.5 micron to about 25 micron. 
     
     
         4 . The drop ejecting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the passageways are circular in transverse cross-section, having a diameter of from about 0.25 micron to about 5 micron. 
     
     
         5 . The drop ejecting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein non-wetting layer comprises a fluoropolymer. 
     
     
         6 . The drop ejection apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises poly(tetrafluoroethylene). 
     
     
         7 . The drop ejection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wetting layer comprises an oxide. 
     
     
         8 . The drop ejection apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the oxide comprises silicon dioxide. 
     
     
         9 . The drop ejection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gas-supply region contains air or oxygen-enriched air. 
     
     
         10 . The drop ejection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gas-supply region is maintained at a pressure of from about 2 mm Hg to about 25 mm Hg higher than a pressure inside the conduit. 
     
     
         11 . A method of jetting a material, the method comprising:
 providing a drop ejector that includes
 a jetting module configured to jet a material comprising a radiation-curable material, 
 a material supply module connected to the jetting module by a conduit, and 
 a gas permeable device attached to a wall of the conduit that includes a partition and a gas-delivery region, wherein the partition includes a non-wetting layer adjacent the gas-delivery region and a wetting layer opposite the non-wetting layer, and one or more passageways extending through the wetting and non-wetting layers; 
   conveying the material comprising the radiation-curable material through the conduit in such a manner that the material contacts the wetting layer of the gas permeable device; and   delivering gas to the gas-supply region.   
     
     
         12 . A drop ejecting apparatus, comprising:
 a jetting module configured to jet a material comprising a radiation-curable material; and   a material supply module that includes a conduit connecting the jetting module and a supply, wherein the conduit comprises a material having an oxygen permeability coefficient of greater than 20×10 −11  cm 3 ·cm/cm 2 ·s·cm Hg at standard temperature and pressure.   
     
     
         13 . The drop ejecting apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the conduit comprises a cross-linked polysiloxane. 
     
     
         14 . The drop ejection apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the oxygen permeability coefficient is greater than 1000×10 −11  cm 3 ·cm/cm 2 ·s·cm Hg. 
     
     
         15 . The drop ejection apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the oxygen permeability coefficient is greater than 25000×10 −11  cm 3 ·cm/cm 2 ·s·cm Hg. 
     
     
         16 . A method of jetting a material, the method comprising:
 providing a drop ejector that includes
 a jetting module configured to jet a material comprising a radiation-curable material, and 
 a material supply module connected to the jetting module by a conduit, wherein the conduit comprises a material having an oxygen permeability coefficient of greater than 20×10 −11  cm 3 ·cm/cm 2 ·s·cmHg at standard temperature and pressure; and 
   conveying the material comprising the radiation-curable material through the conduit.   
     
     
         17 . A method of jetting, the method comprising:
 providing a drop ejector that includes
 a jetting module configured to jet a material comprising a radiation-curable material, and 
 a material supply module housing the material and connected to the jetting module by a conduit; and 
   delivering gas bubbles to the material.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the gas bubbles are delivered from a porous bubbler. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the porous bubbler comprises sintered metal particles. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the gas bubbles delivered have a diameter of less than about 100 micron. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the gas bubbles delivered have a diameter of less than 10 micron. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the gas bubbles delivered have a diameter of less than about 1 micron. 
     
     
         23 . A package for holding a jetting material, comprising:
 a hollow first container housing material comprising a radiation-curable material;   an operable seal disposed on the first container; and   a hollow second container disposed inside the sealed hollow first container, the hollow second container having an aperture defined in a wall of the second container.   
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 23 , wherein a diameter of each aperture is between about 0.001 inch to about 0.025 inch.